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H₂S Exposure in Wellsite Operations

Hydrogen Sulphide

H₂S Exposure in Wellsite Operations

Operating in high H₂S environments presents a major risk of corrosion and mechanical failure for downhole tools. The combination of H₂S, CO₂, and water accelerates degradation, leading to sulphide stress cracking and potential tool failure.

What Makes H₂S So Harmful?

⚠️ Corrosion & Stress Cracking:

- H₂S exposure weakens steel over time.
- Stress cracking can go undetected without non-destructive evaluation (NDE).

🌡️ Influencing Factors:

- Chemical composition, temperature, pressure, and duration of exposure all impact corrosion severity.

Preventing H₂S-Related Failures

✅ Proper Maintenance Procedures:

- Thorough Cleaning: Rinse tools with fresh water immediately after use.
- Drying & Baking: Air dry for 12 hours or bake at 300°F+ to remove residual moisture.
- Inspection & Corrosion Protection: Apply inhibitors and check for embrittlement or cracks.
- NDE Testing: If uncertain, quarantine tools for MPI/NDE assessment before reuse.

💡 Critical Component Awareness:

- Spring disc washers in Accelerators & Power Jars are highly susceptible to H₂S-induced failure. Consider upgrading to ENP-coated or Inconel washers for better durability in hostile environments.

🚨 Why It Matters: Unchecked H₂S exposure leads to unexpected failures, costly downtime, and safety risks. Adopting strict maintenance and inspection protocols ensures operational reliability and tool longevity.

🔧 HALO Intervention – We Get It.

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